Are Stark and the Anti-kickback legislation the same?

These two laws are separate but also integrated into each other. The laws refer to one another, making compliance with one contingent on complying with the other. The complications of complying with both laws are one reason to always seek legal counsel if there is any question of compliance. One big difference between the laws is that to be found guilty of an Anti-kickback violation, prosecutors must prove criminal intent. By contrast, no proof of criminal intent is necessary to be found guilty of a Stark violation. However, both laws carry stiff penalties for violations including large monetary penalties, exclusion from federal healthcare programs and in the case of an Anti-kickback violation, imprisonment up to five years.